Civilian police employee faces robbery charges

CAMDEN, N.J. — A civilian Camden County police department employee faces robbery charges after he allegedly posed as a police officer to stop a pedestrian and take money from the person.

County Prosecutor Warren Faulk says 45-year-old Richard Dayton of Haddon Township also faces official misconduct charges. Dayton has been suspended without pay with the intent to dismiss, and Faulk says authorities have received information indicating Dayton may be responsible for similar incidents within the past week.

Dayton remained jailed Wednesday on $50,000 bail. It was not known if he has retained a lawyer.

Faulk says Dayton served as the police department's fleet manager, which allowed him access to police vehicles. He's accused of using a police badge and radio to pose as a police officer and stop a male pedestrian at 9th and Ferry Avenue in Camden around 10:20 a.m. Tuesday.

After he allegedly took money from the man, Faulk said Dayton drove off in a pickup truck which has been identified as a Camden County police department vehicle.

Faulk said law enforcement learned of the robbery when the victim reported it to police on Tuesday. As part of their investigation, county police retrieved video that corroborated the victim's account and identified Dayton as the suspect.